By clicking on any of the Budapest baths listed above additional info along with price, opening hours, useful tips can be found.

Budapest Gala Concert on 30 December

Have you ever been on a gala concert offering a truly unique entertainment with a special Hungarian flavour and a wide repertoire from gypsy and operetta music to Hungarian-related classical music?

You can enjoy the famous Danube Symphony Orchestra and masterpieces written by Berlioz, Liszt, Lehar, Liszt on the Budapest Gala Concerts and then, should you wish, you can even go on a romantic late night river cruise.

Budapest Gala Concerts

100 Member Gypsy Orchestra at the Budapest Congress Center on 30 December

Music by Bizet, Brahms, Strauss, Tchaikovsky and Liszt, the evening begins with wine tasting and a folk dance show.

The concert can also be booked with a delicious dinner.

River Danube Cruises on 30 December

A river Danube cruise is always a memorable event, irrespectively of the actual season.

Winter Daytime Cruise in Budapest

A lunch cruise, a simple cruise with drinks or a sightseeing cruise with an audio guide, there is a wide range of day cruise options available.

As for the evenings, tickets for the dinner cruises almost always run out days before the date of the cruise, as many people wish to ensure a relaxing evening or night with the loved ones while admiring the UNESCO World Heritage Sights of Budapest and the most famous landmarks, buildings of the city (the Parliament, Buda Castle with the Royal Palace, the Chain Bridge and the other beautiful bridges).

Get ready for an evening cruise and make the reservation long before.

Buda Castle Tours and Segway Tours on 30 December

The Buda Castle District in Budapest is worth a visit. Packed with historic sights, medieval houses, charming streets and some really good cafes and restaurants, this area needs at least a full day to explore.

Spending 29 December in Budapest can easily be fun with many interesting things to do.

Let us give you some ideas of the seasonal festivals, performances, special concerts and other holiday season events on how to spend this day in teh capital city.

Thermal Baths in Budapest on 29 December

Szechenyi Baths Budapest in Winter

Want to get ready for the New Year’s Eve party and chill out before the big event? Maybe longing for a game of water chess? Or just want to relax after the busy Christmas holiday? Just take a dip in one of Budapest’s many famous spas.

Enjoy an amazing Hungarian Folk Music and Dance Show on a boat tour in Budapest while cruising on the Danube. The Folk Show on Dinner Cruise program includes an evening with either a Danube Cruise and 5 Drinks or a 4-Course Served Dinner. This evening offers a bit of fun too, with a bit of folk dance learning opportunity!

Concert at St. Stephen Basilica Budapest

Budapest Basilica – Neil Howard Photography

The magnificent St. Stephen’s Basilica hosts a very popular organ-concert series performed by some of Hungary’s most loved musicians.

If the weather is wet and cold we recommend a visit to one of the world famous thermal baths in the morning, then going on a sightseeing tour on the Danube, followed by a Hungarian Folk music concert for the evening.

Thermal Baths in Budapest on 28 December

Visiting at least one of the thermal baths of Budapest is a must, especially in a cold month like December.

Looking for things to do once Christmas is out of the way? Not sure what is open between 26 December and New Year? Or just want to get out of the house? Here are some useful tips on where to go and what to visit on 27 December in Budapest.

Thermal Baths in Budapest on 27 December

Budapest Szechenyi Baths in Winter – Natalie Wilson Photography

Burn off those excess calories by visiting one of the main thermal baths of Budapest (Szechenyi Baths, Gellert Spa, Lukacs Baths, Rudas Baths) as they are open from 6 am to 9 pm, with small alterations are in the different thermal baths (the outdoor pools in Szechenyi and Rudas Baths are open until 10 pm, while Gellert Spa closes at 8 pm). Check-in for online reservations: 9 am – 6 pm.

Everyone wants to have a relaxed day at Szechenyi and Gellert Spa enjoying a nice massage or trying Gellert Spa’s private bath, therefore early booking is highly suggested.

River Danube Cruises in Budapest on 27 Dec

The dinner cruises are either a la carte, served, or buffet style dinners with live music (from Bar Piano to gypsy music).

As many people are on holiday and not working between Christmas and the New Year, tickets to these cruises sell out in advance, so book early to avoid any disappointment.

Budapest Gala Concert in the Danube Palace Budapest on 27 December

With a very wide range of repertoire from gipsy music and operetta to classical music featuring a special Hungarian instrument, the cimbalom (hammered ducimel), this Budapest Gala Concert is for everyone. Performing the Danube Symphony Orchestra, the soloists of the world-famous Budapest Operetta Theatre and other great talents from the national “Virtuosos” talent show.

Budapest Gala Concerts

You can even enjoy an unforgettable cruise with dinner, drinks and great views of the city right after the concert.

Buda Castle Tours on Dec 27

Buda Castle and its District is one of the top attractions of Budapest. With different winter Castle tours in the Buda Castle District, you can choose the perfect one for you and the loved ones. Please, dress well for these outdoor tours, as the weather in Budapest can be really freezing on the last days of December.

Segway Tours on 27 December in Budapest

While walking tours are mainly for families or the elderly, a Segway Tour in Budapest is for the brave and open minded souls!

Book your Segway Tour in advance as its popularity is rising, even in the cold winter months.

See some of the photos of the 2012 Budapest Christmas Market here. It is downtown, beautiful, merry and special, a sensation indeed with its many concerts (on 2 stages), and about a hundred gift and food stalls. In 2012, the Christmas market will open on Nov 16. This is an early opening, before the Advent period, so the Xmas market will only reach its full beauty on the evening of November 30, 2012. This is the day when the Christmas city lights will be switched on by the mayor of Budapest, Istvan Tarlos (on Nov 30, 2012). The Budapest Christmas Market on Vorosmarty ter will be open until Dec 31, 2012. The market is open every day from 8 am to 8 pm, except for the Christmas holidays:

December 27 – 31: 8am -8pm (NOTE: only the food and drink stalls are open after the Christmas holiday)

Opening hours of the heated playhouse for kids: 2pm-6pm from Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm and 4pm-7pm on Saturday and Sunday from Nov 16 to Dec 23

Hungarian Foods at Budapest Xmas Fair

True, if you are a shopping mall fan, Vorosmarty Christmas Fair may not be your style, but if you like traditional lovely things, and authentic places, come and enjoy the Christmas market with us. Just bring a warm coat and some warm boots. What will you see in 2012 at the Christmas fair on Vorosmarty ter? Let us guide you through.
The Christmas festival in Budapest is one of the best things to do in the capital of Hungary in December, even if you are not much of a Christmas gift shopper. We promise.

Foods and Drinks at the Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market

If you like trying local foods and drinks, you will get some decently priced nice dishes and traditional Hungarian pastries from the vendors at the Christmas market. You can see how the pastries are made, smell the wonderful spices of mulled wine or krampampuli (festive flaming drink, sweet and spicy), as well as Hungarian fruit brandies, which will surely keep you warm in the cold December of Budapest.

Drinking mulled wine, local spirits to keep you warm while sitting by the wooden benches, and listening to the live music (folk music and Christmas songs), or walking about the hundred wooden stalls and little Xmas houses is part of a pleasant Christmas trip in a city, which lives and breathes, even in cold winter time, Budapest.

Map of Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market 2012

The square is small and cosy, but to give you an idea about the Christmas market on Vorosmarty tér, we are sharing the map of the fair with you. You can click on the map to zoom in.

Budapest Christmas Market Map 2012 (click to enlarge)

Concerts at the Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market 2012

There are several concerts during Advent and Christmas in Budapest. Usually traditional music (classical and folk music), but you will definitely find more modern music in the city around Christmas time too: world music, hiphop, house, punk, metal, rock are always present in this cosmopolitan city with hundreds of clubs, bars, discos, etc. The other day we heard Edith Piaf sang by a Hungarian singer in a very nice rendition.

On Vorosmarty Square you will only hear folk music, world music or traditional Christmas songs from the dozens of Hungarian bands playing for free on the Christmas stage.

The bands playing at the fair will be enlisted in the annual Christmas programme put out on a board at the Christmas Market.

Kids love dancing to the lively folk music, which is really fun if you are visiting the Budapest Christmas Market with your children. (Of course some adults also join the dance troupe).

Gifts at the Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market 2012

Quality hand made crafts are abundant, whether you are looking for small gifts or unique high quality Christmas presents: jewellery, shoes, bags, mugs, plates, clothes, toys, etc. are all on the stalls. But how do we know that they are of good quality? Only vendors well rated by the Hungarian Folk Association can sell their goods and gifts on the Christmas market on Vorosmarty ter. No kitchy plastic souvenirs, no led lit cheap gifts, no lame wise cracks on T-shirts.

There is also a guest town selling its traditional and authentic goods at the Budapest Christmas market on Vorosmarty ter. The guest town in 2012 is Kalocsa, which is famous for its colorful and rich Hungarian embroidery, so you can buy gifts like traditional Hungarian tablecloths, kitchen towels, garments, etc. decorated with the folk motifs of Kalocsa. Kalocsa is also famous for its Hungarian paprika (the best Hungarian paprika comes from Szeged and Kalocsa).

The 14th Christmas Market on Vorosmarty Square will feature light painting: from November 30 till December 23, the facade of the Cafe Gerbeaud, a 19th century cafe and pastry shop on Vorosmarty Square, will be painted in the evenings with light rays.

When will be the light painting show on Vorosmarty Square at the Budapest Christmas Market?

In a given period within the Christmas market, every day, after sunset, at the following hours:

5pm on November 30 to December 23, 2012

6pm on November 30 to December 23, 2012

7pm on November 30 to December 23, 2012

8pm on November 30 to December 23, 2012

Wifi at Budapest Christmas Market on Vorosmarty ter 2012

The Christmas fair on Vörösmarty tér is not only free, but there is free wifi too.

Prices at the Budapest Christmas Market 2012

Mulled wines go by mostly HUF 250 per dl, which is really cheap and nice. You can buy mulled wine in a plastic cup or in the official annual mug of the Budapest Christmas market (there is a small fee for the mug, in 2012 the price of the Budapest Christmas mug is HUF 600). The Christmas mug is a nice souvenir, you can choose from 2 colors and 3 designs in 2012. Mulled wine is also sold in plastic cups, but it is so much better to take a mug around, isn’t it?

Budapest Christmas Market mug 2012

Szamos also sells mulled wine, which we liked a lot (their Szamos marzipan and mulled wine stall is at the corner of Vaci street, right of the Xmas stage).

Mulled wine Budapest Christmas market (Szamos mulled wine)

The Christmas fair on Vorosmarty ter is organised by the official Budapest Tourism office, its website is budapestinfo.hu: